Lake George says program needed to stop spread of invasive clam

Published 9:34 pm, Monday, February 11, 2013

LAKE GEORGE — Several communities and environmental groups around Lake George are pushing ahead with plans to start a boat inspection and washing program this summer as a way to keep out invasive species, in the wake of a decision by the state to hold back on such a step until next year.

A memorandum of agreement is being inked involving the village of Lake George, the towns of Lake George and Bolton, the Fund for Lake George and the Lake George Association that commits the partners to getting a voluntary boat-washing program set up for this year's boating season.

In the last several years, two new invasive species — Asian clams and the spiny water flea — got into Lake George, likely brought in by boaters who earlier had been in infested lakes or rivers elsewhere in the region. Invaders can cling to boats or stow away in bilge or bait water and move from one body of water to another when the boat is launched.

Since being found near the village in the summer of 2010, the Asian clam has since spread to eight different locations near the village and in the southern section of the 32-mile lake. Efforts to eradicate clams on the lake bottom by smothering them with large, weighted plastic mats have proven time-consuming, expensive and marginally effective.

"This agreement shows we are serious. We are trying to organize different groups for a common cause — the village, towns and county and environmental organizations — that have not always worked together," Dennis Dickinson, Lake George town supervisor and chairman of Warren County's new Aquatic Invasive Species Committee.

Draining boats, followed by washing with high-pressure warm water, is an effective method of removing any hitchhiking invasives, some of which, like quagga mussels, are too small to be seen with the naked eye in their juvenile form. Washing stations can cost about $25,000 each, and the group hopes to obtain five in time for this year.

Instead, DEC will study the issue of invasive species threatening the lake and support expansion of an existing voluntary boat-inspection program.

Dickinson said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens may be visiting Lake George in the coming weeks to talk about the matter with local officials. "A number of elected officials here have encouraged that. We would like to be able to talk with him and see if we can iron out some of our issues," Dickinson said.

The DEC press office did not comment when asked whether Martens would be going to the lake. Last month's announcement by DEC included concerns that a mandatory boat-inspection system for Lake George would set a precedent for other lakes around the state.

Bolton Supervisor Ron Conover said the town has budgeted $30,000 to combat invasives this year. Those funds could be used to help the Norowal Marina, located in Bolton Landing and one of the busiest marinas on the lake, purchase a boat-washing station in time for this season.

In announcing that no mandatory program would be in place this year, the state also pledged to financially support an expanded voluntary boat-inspection program run at several launch sites for the last five seasons by the Lake George Association.

Volunteers from that program have kept hundreds of infested boats from entering the lake, but the volunteers are not at all launches at all times. Boaters now can launch 24 hours a day, sometimes without any inspection.

A recent study of the 2012 voluntary inspection program found that one boater in four showed up at launches having taken no steps to rid their vessels of potential invasive species. Last year, Warren County lawmakers passed a law against the transport of aquatic invasive species into Lake George and other water bodies in the county. Violations carry a fine of fine of up to $5,000 and up to 15 days in jail. The other two counties on the lake — Washington and Essex — have no such law.